Speech and Debate Course Map 2015-2016: Semester 1
Unit 1: Novice Public Speaking Skills (August 24th-September 4th)
Key Themes: Public Speaking, Role of Audience, Utilizing “Voice”, Enunciation, Pace, Projection,
Gestures, Posture, Eye Contact, Purposeful Movement, Vocal color and variety, Nervousness,
Speaking Examples
Unit 2: Introduction to Speech and Debate (September 7th-8th)
Key Themes: National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA), Debate/Speech Events and
Categories, Declamation, Oral Interpretation of literature, Original Oratory, Interpretation: HumorousDramatic-Duo, Impromptu Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Storytelling, Lincoln-Douglas,
Congressional, Public Forum, Tournament and tournament rules and conduct
Unit 3: Declamation and Speech Analysis (September 9th-17th)
Key Themes: Definition and rules of declamation, Characteristics of great historical speeches,
Reinterpretation of speeches, Writing introductions for declamation, Cutting historical speeches,
Delivery techniques, Strategies for preparing and practicing declamation speeches
Unit 4: Original Oratory: Topic Selection, Research, Creating a Thread, Outlining (September 18th-25th)
Key Themes: Definition and rules for Original Oratory, Choosing oratory topics, Organizing Original
Oratory speeches, Researching Original Oratory, Original Oratory outlines, Creating an outline for an
original oratory speech
Unit 5: Argumentation: Writing an Argument (September 28th-October 7th)
Key Themes: Definition, Logos-Pathos-Ethos, Aristotle and Rhetorical Triangle, Balance in an
argument, organizing arguments, Claims-Warrants-Data, Research tools for argumentation, Using
sources, Anticipating questions, Using questions to write counter-arguments
Unit 6: Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking (October 8th-October 21st)
Key Themes: Definition and rules for Extemp. Speaking, Organizing and Prepping for Extemp.
Speeches, Delivery Strategies for Extemp. Speaking, Definition and rules for Impromptu Speaking,
Organizing and Prepping for Impromptu Speeches, Delivery Strategies for Impromptu Speaking
Unit 7: Interpretation: Storytelling and Oral Interpretation (October 22nd-November 3rd)
Key Themes: Defining Storytelling and O.I., Rules for Storytelling and O.I., Selecting literature, Cutting
from a work, Effective Introduction writing for performances, Character development, Conventions of
delivery for storytelling and oral interpretation of literature
Unit 8: Congressional Debate (November 4th-November 25th)
Key Themes: Definition, Three Branches of Government, Model of Congress, Basic Tenants of the U.S.
Constitution, Structure of debate, Parliamentary Procedure, Recognition of Speakers and presiding
officers, legislation and process of, Bills vs. Resolutions, Interpretation/Deconstruction of legislation,
Types of Congressional Debates, Structure of debate, Cross-examination questions and answers,
Research and preparation, Citing sources, Scoring Congressional Debates
Unit 9: Public Forum Debate (November 30th-December 18th)
Key Themes: Definition and rules for P.F.D.’s, Identifying and arguing resolutions, Research tools to
use, Evaluating and using sources for research, Ethical use of evidence, Organizing and sign-posting
P.F.D.’s, Construction of contention in a case, Cross-examination questions and answers, Strategies and
examples for P.F.D.’s
Unit 10: Philosophy of Lincoln-Douglas Debate (January 4th-12th)
Key Themes: Values v. Philosophy, Definition, Rousseau and “Social Contract”, John Locke and
“Second Treatise of Government”, John Stuart Mill and “On Liberty” and “Utilitarianism”, Immanuel
Kant and “Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals”, John Rawls and “A Theory of Justice”, Norman E.
Bowie and Robert L. Simon and their “Individual and the Political Order”, Purpose of philosophical
concepts in L.D.D., How philosophical concepts clarify values